Technology
Toyota has a data dilemma after hackers leak 240GB of customer information
A threat actor leaked Toyota’s customer data on a dark web forum. The file shared by the hacker contained 240GB of data, including contact and financial information, emails and more.
The Japanese automaker acknowledged the leak but later backtracked, claiming it wasn’t a breach and that the data was stolen from a third-party entity misrepresented as Toyota.
Below, I discuss the security incident in detail, along with tips on how to protect yourself from being targeted by hackers.
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What you need to know about the breach
A hacker group called ZeroSevenGroup claimed on a dark web forum that it stole 240GB of data from Toyota, including info on employees, customers, contract and financial details, according to Bleeping Computer. It also said it gathered network infrastructure info and credentials using ADRecon, an open-source tool that pulls loads of data from active directory systems.
“We have hacked a branch in United States to one of the biggest automotive manufacturer in the world (TOYOTA). We are really glad to share the files with you here for free. The data size: 240 GB,” the threat actor claimed.
The hacker specifically claimed to have access to everything: contacts, financial data, customer info, schemes, employee details, photos, databases, network infrastructure, emails and “a lot of perfect data.”
It’s not clear exactly when the breach happened, but Bleeping Computer found that the files were stolen — or at least created — Dec. 25, 2022. This lines up with a data breach around the same time that hit Toyota’s subsidiary, Toyota Financial Services (TFS). Back then, the company warned customers that their data had been compromised. But there’s no confirmation if the two incidents are related.
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Toyota’s response
“We are aware of the situation. The issue is limited in scope and is not a systemwide issue,” Toyota told Bleeping Computer when asked to verify the hacker’s claims. The company also mentioned that it’s “engaged with those who are impacted and will provide assistance if needed.”
However, the next day, a spokesperson informed the site that Toyota Motor North America’s systems were “not breached or compromised” and that the data was stolen from what appears to be “a third-party entity that is misrepresented as Toyota.”
The spokesperson declined to reveal the name of the breached third party, saying Toyota Motor North America was “not at liberty to disclose“ that information.
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Scope and impact
The leaked data reportedly includes:
- Customer and employee personal information
- Financial records and contracts
- Network infrastructure details
- Emails and internal communications
With 240GB of data exposed, the potential impact on individuals and the company could be substantial.
Timing and detection
The files appear to have been created or stolen Dec. 25, 2022, suggesting a significant delay in detection or disclosure. This lag time is concerning, as it potentially gave attackers ample opportunity to exploit the stolen information.
A pattern of security incidents
This breach is not an isolated incident for Toyota. The company has faced multiple security challenges in recent years:
- A ransomware attack on Toyota Financial Services in 2023
- Exposure of customer car location data for 2.15 million users over a decade due to cloud misconfigurations
- Additional cloud service misconfigurations leaking customer data for over seven years
These recurring issues point to potential systemic weaknesses in Toyota’s cybersecurity infrastructure and practices.
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Industry implications
The automotive industry has become an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals. This incident highlights the need for robust security measures, especially as vehicles become more connected and data-driven.
4 ways to protect yourself in light of the Toyota security incident
Below are a few ways to protect yourself following the Toyota breach.
1. Enable two-factor authentication: Activate two-factor authentication (2FA) on any accounts tied to Toyota services, including email, financial accounts and customer portals. It adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second piece of information, like a code sent to your phone, along with your password when logging in. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to access your accounts, even if your password has been compromised. By enabling 2FA, you can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and better protect your sensitive data in light of the Toyota breach.
2. Use personal data removal services: Consider investing in personal data removal services that specialize in continuously monitoring and removing your personal information from various online databases and websites. I mentioned above that hackers are also stealing your IDs to validate the data. These IDs can be misused in more ways than you can imagine, including impersonation. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
3. Monitor financial accounts: Regularly check your bank statements, credit card activity and any Toyota Financial Services accounts for suspicious transactions. If you notice anything unusual, report it to your bank or financial institution immediately.
4. Watch out for phishing scams: In the aftermath of breaches like this, phishing attempts may increase. Be cautious of emails or messages that ask for personal information or direct you to click suspicious links. Verify the sender’s identity before engaging with such communications.
The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
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Kurt’s key takeaway
In light of this breach, it’s clear that data security is a critical concern for both companies and their customers. Whether the breach occurred directly at Toyota or through a third-party entity, the fact remains that sensitive information has been exposed, putting individuals at risk. It’s a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant, protecting your accounts with tools like two-factor authentication and regularly monitoring your financial activity for any signs of suspicious behavior.
How do you feel about Toyota’s response to the breach? Do you think it did enough to address the situation? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter
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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Apple will charge more to swap your iPhone 16 Pro battery
Defective batteries are covered under Apple’s one-year warranty, and replacements are free under AppleCare Plus plans if your battery has less than 80 percent of its original capacity. If it’s higher than that and you’re still disappointed with its longevity, your options are limited to third-party repair or going the DIY route with official Apple parts, either of which could be cheaper than Apple’s full-price service.
Technology
Shogun Showdown makes you feel like a genius by showing you the future
Shogun Showdown sometimes breaks my brain. The new deckbuilding roguelike is all about tactics, and a key part of the game is that you can always see what the enemies plan to do next. Every once in a while, that gets me in a quandary where I know I’ll lose. But when things click into place and I clear everyone out in one fell swoop, I feel like a strategic genius.
In the game, which just left early access, you’re constantly trying to position your character across a small level to either attack your foes or dodge their moves. As you play, you can upgrade your “tiles” (think: cards) to improve their damage, add perks like freezing ice, or lower their cooldown so that you can use them more frequently. You’re also able to stack up to three tiles so that, with one press of the attack button, you send off a salvo of moves to take out a bunch of bad guys at once.
Since you can see what the enemies will do, you’re constantly strategizing about whether to move in to strike or if you need to back off to stay alive. It can get complex, and sometimes it feels like I have to galaxy brain each move to survive difficult rounds. The strategizing is all worth it when you pull off a series of attacks that clear the battlefield.
Here’s an example of how it comes together. Playing as the starter character, called the Wanderer, I start with a pair of swords that can simultaneously hit the spaces to my left and right as well as an arrow that can fire across the level. With some strategic maneuvering, I can set up the Wanderer so that she strikes a baddie that’s behind her and then shoots an arrow in front of her to eliminate all the dangers on the map.
During each run, you’ll have opportunities to improve your tiles, pick up new ones, and shop for upgrades. Sure, those are all familiar roguelike trappings, but with a little planning, you can make some extraordinarily powerful tiles. For my first winning run, I upgraded an arrow tile so it had high damage and no cooldown, meaning I was firing off arrows without breaking a sweat.
As you play, you’ll also collect skulls that can be used to unlock things like new tiles and more things to buy at item shops. Spending those skulls quickly adds variety to each run, and I don’t think I’ve doubled up on a build yet. Once, I went all in on a dragon punch move that sent enemies flying into each other, and while it didn’t get me a win, I loved punching bad guys across levels to open up space.
I’m still early in the game, and I’ve only unlocked one of four additional characters, so there’s still a lot for me to see. As you clear runs, you can also play through harder “days” with added challenges like tougher enemies or fewer item drops.
Even though I’m working through bigger games like Astro Bot and a long-in-the-works Mass Effect trilogy playthrough, I keep coming back to Shogun Showdown; it’s just too much fun to experiment with the game’s many weapons and strategies. Maybe it’s time for me to try that dragon punch build again — or stumble into something completely unexpected.
Shogun Showdown is available now on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Technology
A breakthrough gadget could help you detect microplastics in your drinking water
We all know that staying hydrated is essential for our health, but what if the water we drink contains tiny pieces of plastic?
Recent studies have revealed that microplastics are present in drinking water sources around the world, raising significant concerns about their potential health impacts.
As awareness of this issue grows, many people are left wondering just how much microplastics they might be consuming daily.
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What are microplastics, anyway?
Microplastics are defined as tiny plastic particles that measure less than 5 millimeters in size. These minuscule fragments originate from various sources, which include the breakdown of larger plastic items that have been discarded, microbeads found in personal care products like exfoliating scrubs, synthetic fibers that shed from clothing during washing and even tire particles that are released from vehicles and washed into storm drains. Once in our waterways, these tiny plastics can eventually make their way into our drinking water, posing a hidden threat to our health.
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How much plastic are we actually drinking?
Research has shown that microplastics can be found in both tap water and bottled water, with concentrations varying widely depending on the source. Studies indicate that microplastic levels in bottled water tend to be higher than those found in tap water. Concentrations can range from a mere 0.0001 particles per liter to a staggering 930 particles per liter in tap water. These findings raise alarming questions about the safety of the water we consume daily, as reusable plastic bottles may release even more microplastics than single-use bottles.
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Should we be worried?
The health implications of ingesting microplastics are still being studied, and while there is limited evidence of direct harm from the particles themselves, there are growing concerns about the chemicals and additives that are often found in plastics.
Additionally, harmful microbes may hitch a ride on these tiny particles, further complicating the issue. Experts are particularly worried about the potential for these particles to accumulate in our bodies over time, leading to unknown long-term health effects.
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A breakthrough in microplastic detection
Until recently, detecting microplastics in water samples required expensive lab equipment and trained technicians. However, researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have developed a game-changing tool to address this issue. Dr. Tianxi Yang and his team have created a small, portable device that can accurately measure microplastics in water samples within minutes.
The innovative tool consists of a 3D-printed box containing a wireless digital microscope, a green LED and an excitation filter. It works in conjunction with a smartphone app that uses machine learning to analyze images from the microscope. The device requires only a tiny amount of water — less than a drop — mixed with a special solution that makes microplastics fluoresce under green light.
In tests using disposable polystyrene cups, the UBC team found that each cup released “hundreds of millions” of nano-sized particles into just 50 milliliters of water. This discovery highlights the prevalence of microplastics in everyday items and the potential for significant exposure through drinking water.
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Implications for public health
The development of this low-cost, portable tool could revolutionize our understanding of microplastic pollution in drinking water. It allows for quick, cheap detection of plastic particles ranging from 50 nanometers to 10 microns in size — particles too small to be seen by the naked eye.
Dr. Yang emphasizes the significance of this breakthrough:
“The breakdown of larger plastic pieces into microplastics and nanoplastics presents significant threats to food systems, ecosystems and human health. This new technique allows quick, cheap detection of these plastics, which could help protect our health and ecosystems.”
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What can we do?
While research on the health impacts of ingesting microplastics is ongoing, there are steps we can take to reduce our exposure. One effective measure is to consider using a water filter designed to remove microplastics. Additionally, opting for tap water over bottled water whenever possible can significantly decrease your plastic consumption. It is also important to reduce your use of single-use plastics in everyday life, as this will help decrease overall plastic pollution in our environment. Dr. Yang also emphasizes the importance of developing biodegradable packaging materials to replace traditional plastics, moving toward a more sustainable world.
Kurt’s key takeaways
As we continue to learn more about microplastics in our drinking water, tools like the one developed at UBC will be crucial in understanding and addressing this growing environmental and health concern. By staying informed and making conscious choices, we can work toward reducing our exposure to microplastics and protecting both our health and the environment.
What role should government regulation play in shaping the development and use of emerging technologies like this? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter
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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
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